Endoscope with additional viewing aperture
First Claim
1. An endoscope comprising a tubular shaft for the introduction thereinto of a viewing lens and a treatment instrument, the shaft having a distal end portion which is channel-shaped with a lateral opening forming a viewing window for a viewing lens, and said channel-shaped portion having provided in a wall thereof an additional viewing window for the viewing lens, wherein the shaft is of substantially oval cross-section having major and minor axes, said channel-shaped end portion extending asymmetrically around a portion of the circumference of said oval cross-section, said channel-shaped end portion being defined by a wall which extends up to the minor axis on one side of the major axis of said oval cross-section and which extends beyond said minor axis on the opposite side of said major axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope has a tubular shaft for receiving a viewing lens and a treatment instrument. The shaft has a distal end portion of channel-shape, providing a viewing window for the viewing lens. The circumference of the shaft is of oval cross-section around which the wall of the channel-shaped portion extends asymmetrically. An aperture recess forming an additional viewing window for the viewing lens is provided in the wall of the end portion. The endoscope is particularly suitable for use in endoscopic operations in the female breast, since the additional viewing window allows inspection of an implant before opening a capsule surrounding the implant.
46 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. An endoscope comprising a tubular shaft for the introduction thereinto of a viewing lens and a treatment instrument, the shaft having a distal end portion which is channel-shaped with a lateral opening forming a viewing window for a viewing lens, and said channel-shaped portion having provided in a wall thereof an additional viewing window for the viewing lens, wherein the shaft is of substantially oval cross-section having major and minor axes, said channel-shaped end portion extending asymmetrically around a portion of the circumference of said oval cross-section, said channel-shaped end portion being defined by a wall which extends up to the minor axis on one side of the major axis of said oval cross-section and which extends beyond said minor axis on the opposite side of said major axis.
Specification